Calibrachoa plant named &#39;Kakegawa S49&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘Kakegawa S49’ is a new variety of Calibrachoa. This new variety has light purple violet colored flowers and dark green foliage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] ‘Kakegawa S49’ originated from a hybridization made in spring1996 in Kakegawa, Japan. The female parent was the commercial variety‘Liricashower Rose’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,884). The male parent was thecommercial variety ‘Million Bells Trailing White’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.10,278). Seed from this cross was sown in spring 1997 and four F₁ plantswere selected. The four selections were intercrossed and the resultingseed bulked together to produce F₂ seed. The F₂ seed was sown in summer1997 and two plants were selected for having sky blue flower color. Theselections were intercrossed and the resulting seed bulked together toproduce F₃ seed. In spring 1998 the F₃ seed was sown and one plant,designated as line K9-119, was selected. This line was vegetativelypropagated in Salinas, Calif. in summer 1998 and again in spring 1999.In these two vegetative generations the line was evaluated anddetermined that the traits are firmly fixed and stable. No inherentvariation or off-types have been identified.

DESCRIPTION OF THE GENUS CALIBRACHOA LLAVE & LEX

[0002] The genus Petunia was originally established in 1803 by A. L.Jussieu, who described both P. parviflora and P. nyctaginifloa as typespecies. Using a non-horticultural system that selected the firstmentioned species as the type species (lectotype), N. L. Britton and H.A. Brown declared P. parviflora as the type species for Petunia in 1913.

[0003] During the 1980's and 1990, H. J. Wijsman published a series ofarticles regarding the ancestry of P. hybrida, the Garden Petunia, andthe inter-relationship of several species classified as Petunia. Thesestudies discovered that P. hybrida and its ancestrial species, P.nyctaginiflora (=P. axillaris) and P. violacea (=P. integrifolia),possessed 14 pairs of chromosomes while several other species, includingP. parviflora, possessed 18 pairs of chromosomes. Since P. parviflorawas the lectotype species for the Petunia genus, Wijsman and J. H. deJong proposed transferring the 14 chromosome species to the genusStimoryne. Horticulturists opposed reclassifying the Garden Petunia andin 1986, Wijsman proposed the alternative of making P. nyctaginiflorathe lectotype species for Petunia and transferring the 18 chromosomespecies to another genus. The I. N. G. Committee adopted this proposal.By 1990 Wijsman had transferred several species, including P. parviflora(=C. parviflora) to Calibrachoa, originally established by Liave andLexarza in 1825. Calibrachoa parviflora (=C. mexicana Llave & Lexarza)is now the type species for the genus Calibrachoa.

[0004] Classification of the current Petunia and Calibrachoa species isstill in progress. New species are also being identified. Consequently aproper description has not been written for the Calibrachoa genus.Calibrachoa can, however, be distinguished from Petunia based on thehigher chromosome number, chromosome morphology, plant branching habitand type of flower bud aestivation. Whereas Petunia species bear aflower peduncle and one new stem from a node, Calibrachoa bear a flowerpeduncle and three stems. Petunia species have a cochlear corolla bud, asingle outermost petal covers the other four, radially folded andterminally contorted petals. Calibrachoa flower buds are flat with allfive petals linearly folded and the two lower petals forming a coveraround the three other petals and fused together.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS FOR PLANT GROWTH

[0005] Vegetative cuttings were propagated in five to six weeks.Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays having 98 cells, andcontaining a peat moss-based growing medium. The base of the cuttingswere dipped for 1 to 2 second sin a 1:9 solution of Dip 'N Grow (1 partsolution to 9 parts water) root inducing solution immediately prior tosticking into the cell trays. The cuttings were misted with water fromoverhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes until sufficient roots wereformed.

[0006] Rooted cuttings were transplanted and grown in 20 cm diameterplastic pots in a glass greenhouse located in Salinas, Calif. Potscontained a peat moss-based growing medium. Soluble fertilizercontaining 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 20% potassium was appliedonce a day or every other day by overhead irrigation. Pots weretop-dressed with a dry, slow release fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen,10% phosphorus and 18% potassium. The typical average air temperaturewas 24C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

[0007] The following traits and characteristics describe the newvariety.

[0008] Classification:

[0009]Family.—Solanaceae.

[0010]Species.—Calibrachoa spp.

[0011]Common names.—Petunia.

[0012] Parentage:

[0013]Female parent.—Liricashower Rose (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,884).

[0014]Male parent.—Million Bells Trailing White (U.S. Plant Pat. No.10,278).

[0015] Growth:

[0016]Habit.—decumbent, mounding in center.

[0017]Height.—23.0 cm.

[0018]Spread.—115.0 cm when grown in a 41 cm hanging basket or pot, andusing five 20 cm potted plants in one hanging basket.

[0019]Life cycle.—annual.

[0020]Time to produce a rooted cutting.—3 weeks.

[0021]Time to bloom from propagation.—10 weeks.

[0022]Form.—branching, dense.

[0023] Stems:

[0024]Stem color.—R.H.S. 144B (yellow-green).

[0025]Anthocyanin color.—R.H.S. N77A (purple).

[0026]Pubescence.—slightly.

[0027]Pubescence color.—R.H.S. 155D (white).

[0028]Pubescence shape.—pointed.

[0029]Stem description.—round, ancipital.

[0030]Stem diameter.—2.0 mm.

[0031]Internode length.—1.5 to 2.5 cm.

[0032] Leaves:

[0033]Leaf tip.—mucronate.

[0034]Leaf arrangement.—alternate.

[0035]Leaf base.—decurrent.

[0036]Leaf color.—upper surface: R.H.S. 137A (green); lower surface:R.H.S. 138B (green).

[0037]Leaf frangrance.—absent.

[0038]Leaf margin.—entire.

[0039]Leaf surface.—slightly.

[0040]Petiole color.—R.H.S. 138C (green).

[0041]Petiole length.—2.0 to 3.0 mm.

[0042]Leaf length.—3.0 to 3.5 cm.

[0043]Leaf shape.—spatulate.

[0044]Leaf width.—1.0 cm at full expansion.

[0045] Flowers:

[0046]Calyx.—5 sepals; 1.0×3.0 cm (l×w); free.

[0047]Corolla.—5 petals, fused.

[0048]Flower diameter.—3.0 cm.

[0049]Bud color.—R.H.S. N144D (yellow-green).

[0050]Bud shape.—ovate.

[0051]Bud surface.—pubescent.

[0052]Duration of flower life.—5 days.

[0053]Flowering habit.—indeterminate.

[0054]Ovary.—superior.

[0055]Placenta arrangement.—central.

[0056]Peduncle.—2.5 cm length; 1.0 mm diameter; slightly smooth, shortpubescence.

[0057]Inflorescence type.—solitary.

[0058]Stamens.—5 stamens, three short and two long, free.

[0059]Stamens color.—R.H.S. 144D (yellow-green).

[0060]Stigma color.—R.H.S. 134A (green).

[0061]Style color.—R.H.S. 144D (yellow-green)

[0062]Petal size.—2.5×1.5 cm (l×w).

[0063]Petal color.—upper surface: R.H.S. N82B (purple-violet); lowersurface: R.H.S. 84D (violet); corolla throat: R.H.S. 155D (white) withR.H.S. N77A (purple) veins; corolla tube: inner surface: R.H.S. 4C(yellow); outer surface: R.H.S. 4C (yellow).

[0064]Petal pubescence.—glabrous.

[0065]Pollen color.—R.H.S. 1A (green-yellow).

[0066]Produces seed.—yes.

COMPARISON WITH MOST SIMILAR VARIETY

[0067] ‘Kakegawa S49’ is most similar to the variety ‘Colorburst Violet’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,086). ‘Kakegawa S49’ differs from ‘ColorburstViolet’ in that it has a lighter purple-violet flower color, a paleyellow corolla throat and a more prostrate, trailing plant habit.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa asshown and described herein.